Excerpts from Fox32Chicago.com:
Recently, the city of Chicago has faced another layer of scrutiny regarding its efforts to address past racial discrimination within the Chicago Fire Department. According to an investigative report released by the city's inspector general, at least 20 of the 111 African-American firefighters hired as part of a settlement to a longstanding discrimination lawsuit were not medically cleared by a department physician before beginning their duties. Tragically, two of these firefighters passed away due to serious medical incidents shortly after joining the force, raising concerns about the importance of proper medical evaluations for emergency responders.
This development comes as part of a broader narrative involving Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who inherited this contentious issue from his predecessor, Richard M. Daley. To resolve the legal dispute over the racially biased 1995 firefighter entrance exam, the city reached a settlement worth approximately $78.4 million, compensating nearly 6,000 African-Americans who were overlooked during that time. Just weeks prior, Mayor Emanuel defended himself against calls for the removal of Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago and a federal investigation into alleged discriminatory practices within the department. He boasted about fulfilling part of the agreement by hiring the 111 African-American firefighters and paying out compensation to affected individuals.
However, recent revelations from Inspector General Joe Ferguson's quarterly report have cast doubt on some aspects of this resolution. Ferguson found that these newly hired firefighters were subjected to a flawed medical clearance process. Although the fire department claimed that external vendors conducted comprehensive reviews of each candidate's medical history, followed by an internal assessment, records indicate that department physicians failed to complete the necessary follow-ups to ensure all candidates were medically fit for duty. Instead, administrative staff, lacking medical expertise, took over the review process for 53 candidates, resulting in the clearance of only 19 and rejection of 34 due to insufficient documentation.
Ferguson emphasized the gravity of the situation, pointing out that two of the 20 improperly cleared firefighters lost their lives under mysterious circumstances, underscoring the need for stricter adherence to medical guidelines. His report also highlighted how a subsequent external medical review flagged six candidates with potential health issues requiring further attention. Unfortunately, two of these individuals succumbed to medical complications even before receiving additional screenings. Meanwhile, the remaining four firefighters flagged for further examination experienced separate medical issues, though none directly linked to their pre-existing conditions.
Despite these alarming findings, the fire department maintains that it has since implemented revised protocols aligned with national standards, ensuring that all future hires undergo thorough medical evaluations conducted exclusively by department physicians. Yet, questions linger about whether past oversights could have been avoided and whether current measures will prevent similar incidents moving forward.
Thanks, Dan!
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